Rotary well-pumping mechanism



Feb. 5, 1929;

M. E. LAYN E ROTARY WELL PUMPING MECHANISM Filed July 12.. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JIL'I Feb. 5, 1929.

M. E. LAYNE ROTARY WELL PUMPING MECHANISH i Filed July l2. 1926 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAHLON E. LAYNE, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO LAYNE &

BOWLER CORPORATION, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALI- FORN IA.

ROTARY 'WELL-PUMPING MECHANISM.

Application led July 12,

This invention relates to rotary well pumping mechanism of the type employed in deep wells.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means and methods of lubricating the line shaft bearings of deep well pumps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for retaining the oil in the shaft casing of the pump when the pump is idle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means by which the pump shaft bearings at the top of the discharge column or head of the pumping mechanism may be lubricated, particular by grease.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means by which the line shaft bearings and other bearings of the pumping mechanism may be supplied with lubricant under pressure.

A further objectof the present invention is to provide means for lubricating the bearings of a rotary pumping mechanism through the use of lubricating oil and grease maintained under pressure by the fluid pumped from the Well whereby the pressure upon the lubricant supply is automatically terminated upon the shutting down of the pump and is automati-4 cally reestablisbed whenever the pump is operated.

Various further objects and advantages of the present invention will best be understood from a description of a preferred form or forms of rotary pumping mechanism embodying the invention. For this purpose, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 indicate an elevation of the pumping mechanism, partially in vertical section or longitudinal section, and,

Figure 3 is an elevation of a modified form of rotary Well pumping mechanism in which the pump proper of the mechanism is broken .off to contract the View, this view being also partially in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, thev rotary pumping mechanism there embodied is shown as comprising a pump proper 2, which may include one or more stages of any preferred' or usual construction in which there is included an impeller 3 carried by a pump shaft 1926. Serial No. 121,776.

4 which extends from the pump 2 vertically to the top of the well and is further provided with suitable means, such as a pulley 5 by which the rotary pumping mechanism may be driven in operation. The pump proper is provided with a discharge casing 6 preferably concentric with the pump shaft 4 and this casing G extends from the pump to the top ot the well Where it terminates in a discharge head 7 having a lateral outlet 8.

In order t-o provide a support for the long vertical pump shaft 4, bearings are distributed along the shaft 4 between the pump head 7 and the pump proper 2, these bearings being supportedV by and housed Within a casing 9, which extends from the neck of the pump proper 2 up to the discharge head 7 and encloses the pump shaft 4 and these bearings from contact with the Huid being pumped through the discharge casing 6. This shaft enclosingcasing 9 also acts as a means of supporting the pump 2 in position, the pump 2 being suspended from the top of the Well by means of such casing. Preferably the form of rotary pumping mechanism il-V lustrated embodies the features of the invention described and claimed in my cepending application Serial No. 131,388, filed Augustv 25, 1926, inv that the discharge casing 6 is made entirely separate from the pump 2 so that the discharge casing 6 and pump 2 may be separately installed within the Well hole. The discharge casing is provided with a reduced section 1() atthe position which it is 'desired to lodge the pump proper. One or more of such reduced sections 10 may be provided throughout the length of the discharge casing 6 in order that it may be possible to locate the pump 2 at different elevations in the well bore. The pump 2 is provided with an annular packing 411 for engagement with this reduced member 10 in order to seal off the upper portion of the discharge casing. The lower portion of the discharge cas# ing 12 then acts as an inlet line to the pump 2.

Inasmuch as this construction permits the separate removal and installation of the pump 2, so that the discharge'casing 6 does not have to be removed from the Well with the removal of the pump 2, it is not always necessary that the Well hole should -be provided With additional encasement. However, I have indicated an additional well casv pump ing 13 for housing and supporting the walls of the/welll hole.

The discharge head 7 of the rotary pumplng mechanism is mounted upon a base member 14 on a suitable foundation, the discharge member 7 and base member 14 having suitable engaging faces 15 so that the weight of the pump proper 2 and discharge casing 6 will automatically vertically center and line the pumping mechanism in the well hole, The discharge head 7 is also provided with an upper removable seal plate 16, which'is provided with a central hollow depending neck 17 through which the pump shaft 4 extends, and is suitably attached together at its lower end 18 to the shaft enclosing casing 9 of the pumping mechanism. The neck 17 of the cylinder v plate 16 also serves as a packing holder for packing the pump shaft 4, the packing being divided into a lower bearing section 19 and an upper packing section 20 engaged by a packing gland 21. Between the two sections 19 and 20, there is a small annular chamber '22 which operates as a grease holding chamber for supplying grease to the packings of the shaft-4 at this point. There is also provlde'd one or more oil ducts 23 through the neck ofthe sealing plate 16 for establishing communication with the shaft enclosing casing 9.

Associated with the mechanism thus described, there are provided means for supplying lubricant to the pumping mechanism including a grease supply andoil supply means,

ber 28, which' chamber is indicated as communicating through a line 29 with the duct 23 so that lubricant may be supplied from said chamber into the shaft enclosing casing 9. Thef connecting line 29 is connected through a sight apparatus 30 by which the -flow of lubricant may be observed. The

plunger 25 is also indicated as provided with a traveling grease supply chamber 31 into which extends a stationary tube 32 which is forced into the chamber 31 on upward motion of the plunger 25 and said ltube 32 is indicated asgcbnnected through the valvedline 33 with the grease holding chamber 22 intermediate the bearing 19 and packer 20 in" the neck of the sealing plate 16.

The piston chamber 26 is indicated as communicating near its upper end 34 with a reservoir 35 for` the reception of anyimaterials leaking from the packing of the different operating parts ofthe lubricating supply means. VThe pump chamber 24- is indicated as connected by the line' 36 with the discharge head 7 said lin'e 36 being pro-v vided with a valve 37 and with the valve discharge outlet 38.

The upper stage of the pump 2 is Shown as provided with a dome neck 39 having bearings 40 and 41, packing of the shaft enclosing casing from the water in the pump proper 2 and the dome of the upper stage of the pump 2 is shown as having a dome Ior separating chamber 42 from which leads an oil or lubricant return line 43to the top of the well.

The chamber 42 is provided with a check valve 44 which, during operation of the pump will iioat upwardly sufficient to permit a slight leakage of water into the separation vchamber 42. if desired, and up through the return oil line 43 so that any excess of oil that is injected int-o the shaft enclosing casing 9 will be thereby returned to the top of the wellz and will not be intermingled with the fluid being discharged from the pump. This valve is constructed so that immediately upon stopping of the operating of the pump, the water'in the discharge pipe lon running back into thewell, will relieve the hydraulic pressure on the valve 44 to permit the valve to close and prevent a return flow of liquid down the return pipe 43 or down the shaft enclosing casing 9. The return line 43 is indicated as providedlat the top of the well with a valve 62 by which the flow of liquid therethrough may be regulated. The line 43 provides a means by which a lubricant -can be circulated under pressure through the bearings of the mechanism without the lubri-V cant being discharged into the well or water pumped and thus without contaminating the water.

The checlvalve 42 may be constructed in various manners. However, in the present invention, it is indicated as formed of a flexible member 45, such as rubber or leather, having a radially extending disk 46 which 'is anchored to the pump by any suitable means.

In operation of the apparatus of the present invention, it will be seen that uponwater being lifted throughthe discharge casing 6,

Athe pressure on said water will be applied through line 36 into the pump chamber `24.

Said pump chamber is, before starting lof the pump, usually and preferably filled with oil, as indicated at 47, '48 indicating a removable lug for the introduction of such lubricant. 'he pressure of the water on the oil in the pump chamber 24 causes the oil to exert a pressure upon the plunger 25 to force the plunger upwardly. The entrance of the stationary tube 32 into the traveling grease chamber 31 in said plunger thus supplies a pressure upon the lubricating grease held therein which `is thereby caused to How through the line 33 into the chamber 22 between the two bearings of the neck of the sealing plate 16, thereby packing these bearings with grease, preventing the discharge or HOW of lubricating oil out along the upper end of the pump shaft 4. The same pressure and upward motion of the plunger 25 places a pressure upon lubricating oil contained within the chamber 28 which, in turn, causes said lubricating oil to be supplied under pressure through the line 29 into the top of the shaft enclosing casing 9. Said lubricant flows vslowly down said shaft enclosing casing, lubricating in turn all of the bearings between the discharge head 7 and the pump proper 2, including the bearings 4() and 41 of the neck of the pump proper 2, and then enters the separation chamber 42 in the upper stage of the dome. Simultaneously, the force of the water being pumped in the' pump proper opens the check valve 44 so that said oil. together with a small amount of water, is forced up the return line 43. In this manner, the lubricant supplied to the bearings of the pumping mechanism may be prevented from intermingling with the fluid being pumped from the well.

Any of the fluid or oil within the pump chamber 24 which leaks past the packing into the chamber 26 or from the chamber 28 to the chamber 26 will be collected in the reser-1 voir 35 and the apparatus thus constructed prohibits the entrance of water intothe lubricant being pumped into the apparatus. At the top of the chamber 28 is indicated a removable member 49 which may be removed to lill the chamber28 with lubricating oil.

Now, referring to the form of the invention described in Figure 3, I have shown the apparatus modified in construction in so far as it relates to the means for placing the lubricating oil and grease .under pressure. It is understood that the remainder of the apparatus is ,the same and is designated by like numerals. The lubricating vsystem of this form of the invention is not operated by the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the discharge casing 6 but by a power meansl 50, indicated as an electric motor, driving a suitable form of pump 51, which takes a lubricating oil from the oil or lubricant reservoir 52 and forces the same through a line 53 into a piston chamber 54. The chamber also connects with a return line 55 having a restriction preferably in the form of a valve 56 by which the lubricating oilor part thereof may be returned to the lubricant or, oil reservoir 5 2. The lower end of the piston h mber 54 is also indicated as connecting witi a line 57 having a valve 58 with the duct 23 in the neck of the sealing plate 16 for passing lubricant. from the pump 51 down the shaft enclosing casing of the pumping mechanism. piston chamber 54 is provided with a removf The upper side of the i able closure 59 having a plugged opening through which the piston chamber, upon lowering of the piston 61 to the bottom of the chamber, may be filled with grease, and the upper side of the piston chamber connects through the valved grease line 60 with the chamber 22 between the bearings in the neck 0f the sealing plate 16.

In accordance with the operation of this form of the invention, the motor 50 continually pumps oil into the piston chamber 54 and said oil may be placed under pressure by partially or entirely closing the valve 56 on the return line so that a pressure is applied to force the piston 61 in the chamber to rise upwardly. Said iston in turn forces the lubricating grease t ereabove to flow through the line 60 to the bearings in the neck of the sealing plate 16. The action of the lubricating oil flowing down the shaft enclosing casing 9 is the same as in the previous form of the invention. However, in this fo'rm of the invention, it is necessary to separately shut ndown the lubricating supply driving means 50 on shutting down of the pump proper. y

The oil reservoir 52-is indicated asprovided with means, such as an electric heating element 63, by which the oil may be heated to maintain fluidity during cold weather. It is understood that. equivalent means for heating the oil may be provided in the form'of the invention of Figures 1 and 2.

While the particular forms of the invention herein described are well adapted for accomplishing the objects of the present invention, it is understood that various modiications and changes may be made without departing from the present invention and this invention includes all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the following appended claims.

1. In a rot-ary well pumping mechanism,

a rotary pump, a vertically extending pum shaft, a shaft enclosing the pump shaft, an providing bearings for the same, a lubricant supply chamber, means connecting the chamber with the shaft enclosing casing, means for applying pressure to force the lubricant down the shaft enclosing casing,a bearing at the upper end of the shaft enclosing casing, and grease supply means operated by said pressure means for supplying pressure to said last named bearing.

A rotary well pumping mechanism com` prislng a rotary pump, a vertically extend'v ing discharge casing, a casing enclosing the pump shaft, a lubricant supply chamber, and a grease supply chamber, a common means for imposing pressure on both of said supply chambers, a connection between the lubricant chamber and the shaft enclosing casing, a packing chamber at the upper en -d of said shaft enclosing casing, and a connection be- "rotary pump, a vertically extending pump shaft, a vertically extending discharge casing, a casing enclosing the pump shaft, a

` lubricating oil supply chamber and a grease lsupplv chamber, means utilizing the pressure in said discharge casing for forcing lubricating oil and grease from said lubricating oil supply chamber and grease. supply chamber, a connection between said lubricating l supply chamber and said shaft enclosing caslng, a packing chamber at the upper end of said shaft enclosing casing, and a connection between said grease supply chamber and said packing chamber.

4;. A rot-ary well pumping mechanism, a pumping chamber, a piston operated there by, said piston having a grease holding chamber, a grease supply line, a lubricant holding chamber into which said piston operates, a

rotary well pump, a vertically extending pump shaft therefor, a shaft enclosing casing for said pump shaft, a packing chamber at the upper end of said shaft enclosing vcasing, said grease supply line being connected to said packing chamber, and a lubricating oil supply line connectedwith said shaft en closing casing.

5. The combination with a rotary well pumping mechanism, of means for continually supplying lubricant under pressure thereto, said means including a pump chamber, a piston operated thereby and having a grease holding chamber, said piston working through a lubricating oil holding chamber, and supply lines from said grease chamber and lubricating oil chamber to said pumping MAHLON E. LAYNE. 

